A survey of councils in the south of England shows a sharp rise in the number of children being educated at home.

Some parents said schools could not cater for their children's needs.

The data came from 15 councils in Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire for the years 2013-2023.

The highest number of home-schooled children was reported by Hampshire County Council, up from 623 to 3,593.

Dorset Council reported a rise from 15 to 285 children, Oxfordshire County Council's figures rose from 177 to 522 and Wiltshire Council saw an increase from 228 to 952.

Only Bracknell Forest Council reported a fall, from 91 children in 2021 to 87 in 2023.

One parent said: 'I believe that the school system is very much a cookie cutter approach and unfortunately our daughter didn't sit within the cookie cutter shape.'

Another said: 'I think some people, probably for similar reasons to me, want to spend more time with their children. But also the school system, I think, is really struggling to cater for the needs of lots of children.'

Mac Heath, co-chair of the Association of Directors of Children's Services South East region, acknowledged that home education was rising.

But he added: 'I would really urge that if we're ensuring that our children get the best opportunity to thrive, both socially, academically, that we continue to recognise that for most of our children schools are the best place for them.'

A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We support the right of parents to educate their children at home but all children should receive a suitable education regardless of where they are educated.'